Multi-function general purpose transceiver

ABSTRACT

The present invention is generally directed to a system and associated method for communicating information to a predetermined location. The system includes a transmitter disposed at a first location and configured to transmit a signal containing an instruction code that uniquely identifies an instruction to be carried out. The system further includes a transceiver disposed remotely from the transmitter and configured to receive the transmitted signal. The transceiver circuit includes a line interface circuit configured to interface with a telephone line that is part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and initiate a phone call over the telephone line. Finally, the system includes a central station remotely located from said transceiver but being in communication with said transceiver via the PSTN. The central station further include a decoder configured to decode the instruction code. In accordance with a broader aspect, the invention is directed to a general purpose transceiver having a receiver for receiving an information signal and a transmitter configured to transmit an outgoing signal over a phone line to a central station. A portion of the information signal includes an instruction code, which may be decoded by the central station and acted upon accordingly. Consistent with the general purpose nature of the transceiver, the phone number of the central station may be transmitted to the transceiver as part of the information signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationsSer. No. 08/825,576, filed on Mar. 31, 1997, entitled Transmitter forAccessing Automated Financial Transaction Machines, Ser. No. 08/895,720,filed Jul. 17, 1997, entitled Transmitter for Accessing Pay-TypeTelephones, and Ser. No. 08/910,980, filed Aug. 7, 1997, entitledTransmitter for Automatically Communicating Information to a Telephone,which all claimed the benefit of U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 60/040,316, filed Feb. 14, 1997, and entitled Card ReplacementTransceiver for Use With Automatic Teller Machines. This applicationfurther claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser.No. 60/059,643, filed Sep. 20, 1997, and entitled System For RequestingService Of A Vending Machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to transceivers, and moreparticularly to a general purpose radio frequency (RF) transceiverhaving an open-ended architecture that readily adapts it for a widevariety of uses and applications.

There are a wide variety of circumstances in which it is desired ordesirable to communicate information to a single location. For example,in the banking industry, when a user accesses an automated tellermachine (ATM), it may be desirable to communicate the user identifyinginformation (e.g., account and PIN number) to a central location toverify that the PIN number matches the account number. Likewise, if theATM breaks down, malfunctions, runs out of money, takes in apredetermined amount of money, or for a variety of other reasons, it maybe desirable to communicate such information to a centralize locationthat can respond accordingly (e.g., dispatch a person to repair orotherwise service machine).

In the vending machine industry, it may be desirable to communicateinformation relating to the product status (e.g., low or out of stock)of a given vending machine to a central location, so that servicepersonnel may be dispatched to replenish the product. In similarfashion, it may be desirable to communicate machine operational statusto a centralized location for purposes of dispatching repair or servicepersonnel. Thus, for example, if the vending machine malfunctions, runsout of change, acquires too much currency, or for other reasons, it maybe desired to communicate this information to a centralized location.

One way this type of information has been communicated in the past hasbeen to dispatch personnel to periodically check on such machinery. Ifproblems were noted, then the dispatched personnel communicated thisinformation to a central dispatch or service location. One shortcomingwith this approach, however, is that it is relatively expensive toemploy an individual to make these periodic status checks. Also, amachine may be disabled or otherwise in need of service for aundesirably lengthy period of time between service checks, before theservice condition is noted and reported.

Accordingly, it is desired to provide an apparatus that effectivelyaddresses the these and other shortcomings of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will beset forth in part in the description that follows and in part willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of thefollowing or may be learned with the practice of the invention. Theobjects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

To achieve the advantages and novel features, the present invention isgenerally directed to a system for communicating information to apredetermined location. In accordance with one aspect of the invention,the system includes a transmitter disposed at a first location andconfigured to transmit a signal containing an instruction code to atransceiver. The instruction code uniquely identifies an instruction tobe carried out. Preferably, the transmitter transmits a relativelylow-power radio-frequency electromagnetic signal. The system furtherincludes a transceiver disposed remotely from the transmitter (butwithin range of the transmitted signal) and is configured to receive thetransmitted signal. The transceiver circuit includes a line interfacecircuit configured to interface with a telephone line that is part ofthe public-switched telephone network (PSTN) and initiate a phone callover the telephone line. In this regard, the transceiver furtherincludes a controller configured to control both the reception of thetransmitted signal and to control the communication of information overthe telephone line. Finally, the system includes a central stationremotely located from said transceiver but being in communication withsaid transceiver via the PSTN. The central station further includes adecoder configured to decode the instruction code.

As will be appreciated, the system summarized above provides anextremely robust and flexible platform for providing general purposecommunications to a central location. In this regard, the term “generalpurpose” may also be referred to as an “open ended” platform that may bereadily adapted for a wide variety of uses. The instruction code is arelatively small data value that may be decoded to define a wide varietyof functions. For example, an instruction code a single byte (eightbits) in size may define up to two hundred fifty six different functionsor instructions. Similarly, an instruction code two bytes in size maydefine over sixty-five thousand (2¹⁶) functions or instructions.

In operation, the transmitter transmits the instruction code, perhapsalong with other information, to a transceiver located remotely, butgenerally nearby. The transceiver, which will preferably be integratedinto a pay-type public telephone (but which can be integrated intovirtually any telephone or other device having access to the PSTN),receives the transmitted information including the instruction code, andcommunicates this information to a predetermined location over the PSTN.In this regard, the transceiver is configured with a controller or otherappropriate component to place a call to a predetermined phone number.Once the connection is established, the instruction code may becommunicated (as by modem) to the predetermined location. Thepredetermined location (which may be a central dispatch location) thendecodes the instruction code to identify the function or instructionthat corresponds to the code, and further initiates an appropriateresponse.

To illustrate the foregoing summary with a more concrete example,consider a vending machine that is running low on a particular product.A sensor within the vending machine may make this determination andsignal the transmitter accordingly. The transmitter then broadcasts atransmission that includes an instruction code that corresponds to thelow product alert. The transceiver receives the broadcast transmissionand communicates this information to a predetermined phone number. Inthis respect, the predetermined phone number may also be communicatedfrom the transmitter to the transceiver along with the instruction code.Assuming that the predetermined number corresponds to a central dispatchcenter, the center answers the phone call placed by the transceiver andreceives the instruction code. It then decodes the instruction code todetermine that a particular product is low in the vending machine, andit may dispatch an appropriate service person to restock the machine. Tothis end, the center may be configured to generate an email message toroute to an appropriate service person to handle the request.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is providedfor performing an automated service request. In accordance with thisaspect of the invention, the method includes the steps of sensing aservice condition and notifying a transmitter of the service condition.Then the method transmits an information signal from the transmitter toa remotely-located transceiver, wherein the information signal includesa function code that specifies the service condition. Thereafter, themethod places a call from the transceiver to a central station over aphone line comprising a part of the public switched telephone network(PSTN), and communicates at least the function code from the transceiverto the central station. Finally, the method decodes the function code atthe central station to identify the service request.

In accordance with a broader aspect of the present invention amulti-function, general purpose transceiver is provided. In accordancewith this broad aspect of the invention, the transceiver includes areceiver circuit for receiving a signal transmitted from a remotelylocated transmitter. The transceiver also includes a transmitter that isconfigured to communicate information over a phone line, comprising aportion of the PSTN. Finally, the transceiver includes a controller thatis configured acquire information from the receiver circuit, initiate aphone call to a predetermined location, and transmit the acquiredinformation over the PSTN to the called location.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of thespecification, illustrate several aspects of the present invention, andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of a system constructed in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are block diagrams of a system constructed in accordancewith an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a telephone housing atransceiver constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a transceiver constructed inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is look-up table illustrating the association of instructioncodes with there relevant function;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the top-level functional operation ofa transceiver constructed in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the top-level functional operation ofa system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 8A and 8B comprise a flowchart illustrating a more detailedoperation of system constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Having summarized various aspects of the present invention, referencewill now be made in detail to the description of the invention asillustrated in the drawings. While the invention will be described inconnection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to theembodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. On the contrary, the intentis to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents includedwithin the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

While the present invention is broadly directed to a general purposetransceiver and a method for communicating information from remote sitesto a central location, before specifically describing these aspects ofthe invention, reference will first be made to two differentillustrative environments and uses of the present invention. In thisregard, FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an environment in which informationmay be communicated from financial transaction machines (e.g., ATMs) toa central location, and FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate an environment inwhich information may be communicated from vending machines to a centrallocation. However, it will be appreciated by persons of skill in the artfrom a reading of this disclosure that the present invention may have awide variety of other uses, and a transceiver constructed in accordancewith the invention may be utilized in a wide variety of environments.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a system level block diagramof an automatic financial transaction. More specifically, the figureshows an automatic financial transaction machine (AFTM) 10 beingremotely accessed by a transmitter 20. The AFTM 10 may be any of anumber of devices, including, most commonly, an automated teller machinefor banking. However, the AFTM 10 may further encompass devices such asgas pumps of the type equipped to receive credit cards for charging anotherwise cash transaction. It will be appreciated that other similardevices fall within the scope of the term.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A, the AFTM 10 includes a display12, such as a CRT, for providing a visual display to a user. A cardreceiving slot 14 is also shown. As is known, the card receiving slot 14receives a plastic card such as a bank card, credit card, or some othermagnetically encoded card for purposes of user identification. A key pad16 for inputting information, such as a personal identification number(PIN), transaction amounts, and other information is also illustrated inthe drawing.

Finally, the last functional block illustrated in the AFTM 10 of FIG. 1Ais receiving unit 18. The receiving unit 18 has been illustrated indashed lines, since it will typically reside inside the AFTM 10. Thereceiving unit 18 is adapted to receive a signal transmitted from aremote transmitter 20, interpreting that signal in order to allow a useraccess to the AFTM 10. Preferably, the receiving block 18 comprises aradio frequency (RF) receiving for receiver electromagnetic wavestransmitted from an RF transmitter contained with the remote transmitterunit 20. However, consistent with the concepts and teachings in thepresent invention, the receiving block 18 may be configured to receiveother wavelength electromagnetic signals, including ultrasonic orinfrared.

A remote transmitting unit 20 is provided for remote communications withthe AFTM 10. While the transmitter 20 will be described in more detailbelow, it broadly operates to transmit an electromagnetic signal 30 to areceiver located at the AFTM 10, wherein said electromagnetic signal isencoded with user identifying information to allow a user to gain accessto the AFTM 10. In this regard, an internal transmission circuit (notshown) is provided within the transmitter 20 to act upon command totransmit the encoded electromagnetic signal 30. A transmit button 22 isprovided for the user. As illustrated, the transmitter 20 is quite smalland may be conveniently attached, for example, to a key ring for readyand portable use. Indeed, in one embodiment, the single transmitterconstructed in accordance with the present invention may serve multiplefunctions. For example, small transmitters of this type are known foractivating and deactivating automobile alarm systems. The transmitter ofthe present invention may be integrally designed with such an automobileremote to provide the dual functionality of remotely controlling anautomobile alarm along with the functionality of remote access to anAFTM 10. In accordance with such an embodiment, a second transmit button24 would be provided. In this regard, the first transmit button 22 wouldbe operative to, for example, operate the AFTM 10, while the secondtransmit button 24 would be operative to remotely operate the automobilealarm. It will be appreciated that the frequency, and/or format of thetransmit signal 30 transmitted will be different for the differentapplications. For example, the signal transmitted to AFTM 10 may includeaccount identification information, while only a unique activationsequence need be transmitted to actuate an automobile alarm.

In yet a further embodiment, additional transmit buttons (not shown) maybe provided as well. To illustrate, presently people typically carrymultiple banking and/or credit cards in their billfolds or purses. Inaccordance with one embodiment, a transmitting unit 20 may be providedwith multiple transmit buttons, wherein a transmit button 22, 24 isuniquely assigned to a different banking and/or credit card. Therefore,if a user has a bank checking account, and credit accounts with otherfinancial institutions for both VISA and MASTERCARD credit cards, thenthree distinct transmit buttons would be provided for accessing thethree different accounts. It should be appreciated that many AFTM's 10presently allow access to a wide number and variety of accounts,including MASTERCARD, VISA, AMERICAN EXPRESS, etc. Such a machine wouldbe constructed in accordance with the invention to recognize thetransmissions from each of the different transmit buttons depressed. Inaccordance with the description provided below, the various user/accountinformation will be different for each account, and therefore, thesignal transmitted will be different. Providing a separate transmitbutton for each of these functions/account simplifies the userinterface. A simpler way to envision such a transmitter 20 is torecognize that each individual credit/banking card that a user may carryin a billfold or purse would be replaced by an additional transmitbutton on the transmitter 20.

In use, a user would simply depress a transmit button 22, which wouldresult in the transmitter 20 transmitting an electromagnetic signal 30to a remote AFTM 10. Preferably, the transmitter 20 is an extremely lowpower transmitter, so that a user will have to be in close proximity,(e.g., several feet) to the receiver 18 of an AFTM 10 in order to usethe transmitter. This would help alleviate problems which may otherwiseoccur if a user approaching an AFTM 10 is circumvented by a second, moredistantly located user who depresses his transmit button. This extremelylow-power operation also helps to prevent the unlawful interception ofthe electromagnetic signals. In addition, in an alternative embodiment,the transmitted signal may be encrypted for further protect against suchunlawful interception.

A receiving unit 18 disposed within the AFTM 10 receives and decodes thesignal 30. The AFTM 10 then evaluates the received, decoded signal toensure that it identifies a legitimate user/account. If so, the user maythen access the AFTM 10. In the case of an automatic teller machine, orother similar AFTM 10, a user may then be prompted to enter a personalidentification number (PIN) into, for example, key pad 16, as an addedmeasure of security. However, in many AFTM's, a user will not need tomake any further input. For example, many gas pumps are presentlyautomated to receive an inserted credit card and debit the correspondingaccount according to the amount of gasoline purchased. Presently, thereis no need in these devices for a user to manually key in a personalidentification number. In similar fashion, the system may be configuredto operate automatically and exclusively by the depression of a transmitbutton on the transmitter 20.

Having now presented an overview of the basic operation of the system ofFIG. 1A, reference is made to FIG. 1B which shows a more detailed blockdiagram of the components contained within the AFTM 10 and remotetransmitting unit 20. As previously mentioned, the transmitting unit 20includes a transmit button 22, which initiates the data transmission.The other primary functional blocks of the transmitter 20 include amemory 42, a data formatter 44, a controller 46, and an RF transmitter48. It will be appreciated that the functional blocks shown in FIG. 1Bare shown for purposes of illustration and facilitating a betterunderstanding of the broad concepts of the system. The functional blocksof the illustrated embodiment should not, however, be viewed as specificlimitations on the invention. For example, data formatter 44 andcontroller 46 (discussed below) may be embodied in a single functionalunit. Indeed, it is contemplated that the entirety of the circuitry ofthe transmitter 20 will be contained within a single integrated circuitcomponent.

In keeping with the description of the transmitter 20, the controller 46lies at the heart of the transmitter 20, and serves to control theoverall functionality thereof In this regard, the controller 46 isresponsive to the depression or actuation of transmit button 22 to beginthe data transaction and signal transfer. More particularly, when a userdepresses the transmit button 22, the controller 46 initiates the datatransmission sequence by accessing an internal memory 42, which, amongother things, stores user and/or account identification information.This information is then passed to a data formatter functional block 44which places the data in an appropriate and predefined format fortransmission to the AFTM 10. It is contemplated that the above-describedfunctionality occurs in electronic format. This electronic data is thensent from data formatter 44 to an RF transmitter 48 for conversion fromelectric to electromagnetic form. As is well known by those skilled inthe art, a variety of transducers can perform this functionalityadequately.

The AFTM 10 receives the transmitted electromagnetic signal at an RFreceiver 50. This receiver serves to convert the data fromelectromagnetic format into electrical 15 format (i.e., a digitalsignal) and passes that data to a data formatter 52. Also illustrated ascomprising principal functional components of the AFTM 10 are themagnetic card receiving slot 14, a transducer or magnetic pick-up 54,the display 12, the keyboard 16, a block denoted as controller 56, acloud denoted as miscellaneous 58, and a communication network (i.e.,the PSTN) 60.

In a manner that is well known, a magnetically encoded card is insertedinto slot 14, wherein the information encoded on the card's magneticstrip is read by transducer or magnetic pick-up 54. The electric signalsfrom this pick-up 54 are then formatted into a suitable, preferablydigital, form by data formatter 52. For purposes of simplifying thedescription, the data formatter 52 (shown as a single block) receivessignals from both the transducer 54 and the RF receiver 50. It will,however, be appreciated that the data formatting function of block 52may be provided by two separate and distinct formatting units. In such aretrofit system, the functionality of such data formatter 52 wouldindeed be performed by distinct physical units. In keeping with thedescription of the AFTM 10, the information received and formatted bythe data formatter 52 is then transmitted to a block denoted asController 56. This functional block serves to verify that theinformation received, either from the encoded card inserted into slot14, or the signal received by the RF receiver 50 is valid. To do this,the AFTM 10 will generally access a centralized database (not shown) viathe PSTN 60. It will be appreciated that this account verificationfunctionality is well known in the prior art, and therefore, need not bediscussed herein. Finally, a block 58 denoted as “transmitter” isillustrated within the AFTM 10, which controls the communication of dataacross the PSTN 60.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the controller 56performs a variety of functional features which depend, in part, uponthe specifics of the machine 10. For example, the block will manage userinput and output to and from the display 12 and keypad 16, as well asthe PSTN 60 management and access. It would further serve to access anydatabase of information that is stored locally at the AFTM 10.

As illustrated, the ATFM 10 communicates across the PTSN 60 to a centralstation 62. The central station 62 may comprise a database of financialand/or account information, which database may be utilized to verifyuser information. It may also include facilities that are capable ofdispatching service personnel, if the ATFM 10 sends a message indicatingthat the machine, or its surrounding environment is in need of service.In this regard, the surrounding environment may refer lighting. As isknown, a certain amount of lighting is generally desired (if notrequired) in the immediate vicinity of an ATM. A lighting failure may bean event that is sensed and transmitted by the transceiver to report aservice condition for repair. For purposes of the present invention, theactual structure and/or of the central station 62 is unimportant, andthus will not be discussed in detail herein. Suffice it to say that thecentral station 62 may vary from implementation to implementation.

The controller 56, receiver 50, data formatter 52, and transmitter 58may all be provided on an open-ended transceiver constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A and 2B, which illustrate anotherenvironment of the present invention. Specifically, the environmentillustrated in these figures is one which provides for the automatedservice of a vending machine 120. In this regard, a vending machine 120,such as a soda dispensing machine, includes an internal transmitter 148that communicates information to a nearby transceiver (not shown in FIG.2A, but illustrated in FIG. 4). In accordance with this illustratedembodiment, the transceiver is incorporated into a public, pay-typetelephone 110. However, and as will be appreciated, the transceiver maybe incorporated into a variety of devices, so long as it has access to aphone line, preferably one forming a part of the PSTN.

Internally, the transceiver includes receiver circuitry for receivingthe transmitted signal 130 and a transmitter for communicating data viathe PSTN 160 to a central station 162. In this regard, the centralstation 162 may be a central dispatch location, that is set up todispatch service personnel to attend to the vending machine 120. As willbe appreciated, the vending machine 120 may encompass a wide variety ofdevices, in addition to a soda dispensing machine. For example, thevending machine 120 may include a snack dispensing apparatus, a candydispensing apparatus, a cigarette dispensing apparatus, a newspaperdispensing apparatus, an ice dispensing apparatus, among a laundry listof other devices.

A variety of sensors (not shown) may be provided in the vending machine120 for detecting a variety of events. For example, detecting whetherthe machine is low on a given product, or out of a product; determiningwhether the machine is out of change; determining if the machine hastaken in a predetermined amount of money, which should be emptied;detecting if the machine is out of order; etc. These, and other eventssensed within the vending machine 120 may be communicated to thetransmitter 148, which then formats the data in a way that it may bereadily understood by the transceiver. The transmitter 148 thentransmits the data (via RF link 130) to the transceiver disposed withinthe telephone 110. This information, in turn, is communicated from thetransceiver via PSTN 160 to a central station 162. Based upon theinformation received, the central station 162 will institute anappropriate response. For example, if the information received is anotification that one or more of the products in the vending machine 120is either low or out, then a first person may be dispatched to restockthe machine. If, on the other hand, the information received is anotification that the machine is out of order, then a second person(service person) may be dispatched to service the machine.

Having broadly described the vending machine service environment,reference is now made to FIG. 2B, which illustrates the circuitry withinthe vending machine 120, as well as the circuitry within the telephone110, for carrying out the inventive aspects. In this regard, the varioussensors disposed within the vending machine are broadly denoted by theblock labeled “Sensor Circuitry” 142. The outputs of the various sensorsmay be directed to a controller 146, which may comprise dedicatedcircuitry, or may alternatively comprise general purpose programmablehardware, such as a microprocessor or microcontroller. The controller146, in essence, handles the processing of most of the functionaloperations carried out at the vending machine 120.

In this regard, and as will be discussed in more detail below, thetransceiver of the present invention is characterized by an open-endedarchitecture that is configured to receive an encoded instruction. Thisencoded instruction may be decoded to identify specific and uniquefunctions and/or instructions. For example, one code may uniquelydescribe the event of the vending machine 120 running out of a certainproduct. Although this code may be meaningless to the transceiver, whendecoded by the central station 162, an appropriate action may be taken.Thus, a vending machine company may utilize a given code to define acertain event relevant to the vending machine, while a bankingenterprise may utilize the same code to define a completely differentevent. Nevertheless, the same general purpose transceiver may be used toimplement both embodiments.

In keeping with a description of the vending machine 120, the controller146 is preferably configured to receive sensor outputs and compose theappropriate instruction code for transmission to the transceiver. Ablock called “Data Formatter” 144 may also be provided within thevending machine 120. As the name implies, this block formats the datafor transmission to the transceiver. It will be appreciated that, inaddition to the instruction code, other information may also be suppliedby the transmitter 148. As illustrated by the block 157 (exploded fromthe Data Formatter block 144), information such as a transmitteridentification code, and a destination phone number may also be includedin the information transmitted to the transceiver. In this regard, thetransmitter identification code uniquely identifies the transmitter,which code may be decoded at the central station to identify thespecific vending machine that is originating the message.

That is, the instruction code may inform the central station 162 as tothe particular service need of the vending machine 120, and thetransmitter identification code may inform the central station 162 ofthe particular vending machine 120, and thus its location, in need ofservice.

Finally, the data formatter may also include the phone number of thecentral station 162; namely, phone number that the transceiver is todial over the PSTN 160. In this way, a generic (open-ended) transceivermay be utilized and installed in mass within public, pay-typetelephones, by the service provider. Thus, various companies may thenutilize specially configured transmitters 148 to communicate with thegeneral purpose transceiver to communicate a wide variety of informationto central locations, defined by the transmitters.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B illustrate two different environments in whichthe present invention may operate, it will be appreciated that a varietyof other environments may use or implement the invention as well.

Reference is now made briefly to FIG. 3, which is an explodedperspective view of a telephone 110 incorporating a transceiver 150constructed in accordance with the present invention. In this regard,the transceiver 150 may be provided in a single module having anassociated battery pack 151. Alternatively, the transceiver 150 could bedesigned to operate from the power supplied to the telephone. Asillustrated, the module 150 may be configured to snap into a spaceprovided in the telephone, and maintained by a pair or resilient fingers178.

An external wire 153 may be provided to act as an antenna for the RFreceiver. Alternatively, a smaller internal antenna may be provided. Aswill be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the output fromthe transceiver is via cable 180, which may terminate at an RJ11connector, having Ring, Tip, and Common conductors.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which illustrates (generically) a systemconstructed in accordance with the present invention. The drawing morespecifically illustrates an open-ended transceiver 170 constructed inaccordance with the present invention. In this regard, the transceiver170 includes a receiver circuit 250 that is configured to receive anelectromagnetic signal (e.g., RF, optical, etc.). As described above,this signal includes an instruction code, and possibly other items suchas a phone number, a transmitter identification code, etc. A dataformatter 252 is provided in connection with a controller 256 to furtherformat a signal that is to be output from the transceiver 270 to thecentral station 362. In this regard, additional information may be addedto the signal that is transmitted to the central station 362.

For example, a transceiver identification code may be added to thesignal. Although the central station may decode the transmitteridentification code (if provided) to identify, for example, a geographiclocation of a transmitter, in environments where the transmitter is amobile (i.e., handheld), a transmitter identification code may be of nouse in identifying a geographic location. In such an environment, theaddition of a transceiver code will facilitate the identification of thetransmitter location (recognizing that the transmitter will be locatedin the proximity of the transceiver 270).

The controller 256 preferably performs the overall control andsynchronization of functional operations within the transceiver 270. Inthis regard, the controller 256 may be a general purpose microprocessoror microcontroller. If so, memory 257 will be provided to storeprogrammable code for controlling the operation of the controller 256.Telephone circuitry 258 may also be provided for interfacing to thetelephone circuitry 263 within the telephone 110. The telephone 110typically has circuitry configured to interface with the local loop ofthe PSTN 260. The interface 258 within the transceiver 270 is designedto interface with this typical/standard telephone circuitry 263. Thespecific implementation of the circuitry of block 258 will beappreciated by persons skilled in the art and need not be described indetail herein.

A look-up table 266 is also illustrated in FIG. 4. It is illustrated indashed line to represent that it may be optionally provided within thetransceiver 270. Consistent with the broader concepts of the invention,in certain embodiments, it may be desired to provide a more applicationspecific transceiver 270. In such embodiments, a look-up table 266 maybe provided within the transceiver for decoding information such as theinstruction code, the transmitter identification code, or any otherinformation that may be transmitted from the transmitter. The specificuse of such data will necessarily be application specific and controlledby the controller 256, and need not be described herein.

At the central station 262, a computer 290 may be provided to receiveand process data received from the transceiver 270 via the PSTN 260. Inthis regard a database 292, including a look-up table 294, may beprovided. Since the present invention is directed to the transceiver270, a variety of platforms may actually be implemented at the centralstation 262. It will be appreciated, however, that with a computer 290implementation, an extremely flexible and robust operation may beachieved. For example, the response of the central station 262 tovarious incoming messages may be programmed to vary depending upon thecontents of the message.

By way of illustration, suppose in incoming message identifies aparticular vending machine that is out of a given product. The computer290, upon recognizing this condition, may alert the appropriate personthat is to restock the machine. To this end, the computer may so notifythe person by sending the person an email message. Similarly, supposethe computer recognizes the incoming message as identifying that aparticular vending machine is out of order, then the computer 290 mayalert a different person that the machine is in need of technicalservice. In order to identify the contents of the various incomingmessages, the central station 262 may employ a look-up table, like thatillustrated in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 5, a look-up table is illustrated. Although thelook-up table 294 may take on a wide variety of forms, the tableillustrated in FIG. 5 includes two columns of data. The first column isa listing of the various instruction codes that are transmitted by thetransmitter to the transceiver, and forwarded by the transceiver to thecentral station. The second column contains the specific functions orinstructions that correspond to the transmitted/received instructioncode. Thus, by looking up the instruction code within the table 294, thecomputer 290 at the central station can readily identify the function orinstruction that is to be executed. For example, one code may indicatedthat a particular vending machine “n” is low on a specific product “X”.Another code may indicate that a person “Y” is in distress. Yet anothercode may indicate that an industrial trash compactor “m” is in need ofservice.

Thus, in one embodiment, the instruction codes themselves may be encodedto uniquely identify particular machines or persons. More particularly,in the illustrated embodiment, instruction code 00000001 identifies thatvending machine “n” is low on product “X”. In yet another embodiment,this same code may indicate that a vending machine (generally) is low ona product (generally). Additional codes may be generated at thetransmitter and decoded at the central station to provide this morespecific information. For example, a transmitter identification code maybe decoded by the central station to identify the specific vendingmachine that is low on product. Likewise, an additional code, such as aproduct code, may be generated by the transmitter to identify thespecific product that is low. Thus, in such an alternative embodiment,as many as three different look-up tables may be utilized at the centralstation 292.

Having described the transceiver of the present invention, andillustrated its use in differing embodiments, reference is now made toFIG. 6, which is a flowchart that depicts the top-level functionaloperation of a transceiver constructed in accordance with one embodimentof the invention. In this regard, the transceiver awaits the receipt ofa signal transmitted from a transmitter (step 302). Upon receipt of atransmitted signal, the transceiver (through the controller and dataformatter) looks to identify and/or isolate the instruction code (step304). The transceiver also looks, if appropriate, to identify a phonenumber of a central station (step 306). The transceiver then dials thiscentral station, establishing a connection over the PSTN (step 308).

In this regard, the transceiver may be configured to seize the phoneline. Thus, anyone making a call or any call currently in progress wouldbe disconnected. Alternatively, the transceiver (through the controller)may be configured to test the phone line for its present availability.If a call is in progress, the controller may store the message receivedfrom the transmitter and await the availability of the phone line. Oncethe phone line becomes available, then the transceiver may assume theline and place its call. In yet a further embodiment, the transceivermay be configured to implement simultaneous voice/data technology toplace the phone call to the central station without interrupting anyongoing call. In an even more complex embodiment, a different servicemay be provided in connection with the telephone 110 through which toplace the call. For example, the telephone 110 may also be equipped withan ISDN service or a DSL service, through which the transmitted iscommunicated. As is known, communication through such a service may bemade without any interruption to a call ongoing in the POTS frequencyband.

Finally, the transceiver transmits the message, including theinstruction code, and, if relevant, the transmitter identification code,the destination phone number, the transceiver identification code, etc.(step 310).

Referring now to FIG. 7, a flowchart is shown that illustrates thetop-level functional operation of a system, in accordance with oneaspect of the invention. In this regard, the system remains in an idlestate, until the transmitter becomes activated (step 320). Thisactivation may result from a user depressing a manual button on atransmitter or by an event triggering an input to a transmitter. Uponactivation, the transmitter transmits a signal, including at least aninstruction code (step 322). Thereafter the transceiver operates inaccordance with the flowchart of FIG. 6. The central station thendecodes information received via the PSTN (specifically decoding theinstruction code).

Based upon the decoded instruction code (and perhaps other codes in someembodiments), the central station initiates an appropriate action inresponse. For example, in response to a distress call, the centralstation may dispatch emergency personnel (step 330). In response to aservice request, the central station may dispatch service personnel 332.In response to other types of messages or requests, the central stationmay dispatch other personnel or take other appropriate action (step334).

Having described the top-level functional operation of the invention,reference is made to FIGS. 8A and 8B, which comprise a flowchart thatdepicts the operation of the system from more of a hardware level, asopposed to a functional level. The flowchart of FIG. 8 will not bedescribed herein in detail, as a person of ordinary skill in the artwill appreciate the system operation simply from a review of theflowchart and the nomenclature provided therein. For example, block 342indicates the activation of the modem within the transceiver to dial-outonto the PSTN. The decision block 345 evaluates whether an appropriateconnection has been established. If so the system proceeds to step 347to transfer data. Alternatively, the system returns to steps 343 and 344to attempt a redial.

It should be appreciated that the foregoing description has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description. Variousalternative embodiments may be implemented completely consistent withthe concepts and teachings of the invention. Indeed, the encoded messagetransmitter 148 is, preferably, different that that described above. Inthis regard, the message preferably transmitted is, in its most basicform, a fourteen byte message, defined by Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Byte Description 1-4 “To” Address - Four Hex Bytes 5-8 “From”Address - Four Hex Bytes  9 Message Number 10-11 Packet Number 12 ByteCount (14-255) 13 Command (instruction code) 14 Data 15 Check Sum - Hex(modulo 8)

Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the message transmitted defines thedestination of the central station by the “To” address, which is alogical IP address. Thus, the transceiver may be configured to establisha connection with a predetermined remote number, which may this allowmessage routing in accordance with the IP protocol, using the Internet.In this regard, bytes 1-4 of the message define the destination to whichthe message is routed.

When the central station receives the message, it may evaluate the“From” address, which will be unique to a given transmitter. Thisaddress, in turn defines the physical (i.e., geographic) location of thetransmitter. That is, in many embodiments, knowing that a giventransmitter was installed in a given device allows the central station262 to known the location of the transmitter 148.

Byte 13 defines the command or instruction code that is relayed to thecentral station. In accordance with the general purpose nature of thesystem, a second byte (actually variable in size), permits the passageof data if necessary. For example, byte 13 may be encoded to indicatethat a given product in a vending machine is low on stock. Furtherdetail, such as a description of the product, may be passed in byte 14.In an alternative embodiment, this byte may be used to communicate otherdata. For example, in an embodiment where the transmitter is a hand-heldtransmitter, a panic button may be provided. The instruction code may beencoded to convey “help” or distress command. (See, for example, U.S.Pat. No. 5,714,931, assigned to the assignee of the present invention,and is hereby incorporated by reference). The data field of byte 14 maybe encoded to include personal data about the person carrying thetransmitter. In a banking environment, the instruction code may be onethat requests access to an account, while the data field may convey thetrack one data, typically carried on the magnetic strip of a magneticcard.

In yet another embodiment, a transmitter may be provided on anautomobile. Sensors may be disposed in numerous locations throughout thecar. In this regard an automobile manufacturer may include a variety ofdiagnostic sensors covering a variety of the mechanical and electricalsystems on the automobile. If a system malfunctions, causing the car tobreak down, the transmitter may encode the relevant data into the datafield of the transmitted message. In this regard, the instruction codemay be that the car is broken down and the data may be the data relevantto diagnose the reason for the breakdown. Using this diagnosticinformation, a service person may be dispatched to the site of thevehicle with the necessary component(s) to service the vehicle, ratherthan simply dispatching a tow-truck to tow the vehicle to a servicelocation (depending of course on the nature of the service required).

In embodiments such as a personal transmitter, an automotivetransmitter, and other embodiments where the nature of the transmitteris necessarily mobile, the transmitter may also include globalpositioning system (GPS) circuitry. Thus, when the message istransmitted, the data field may also include the relevant GPS location,so that the geographic location of the transmitter may be readilyidentified and located.

In this regard, byte 14 is actually variable in length. It may vary from0 to 241 bytes in length. To this end, byte 12 (byte count) will specifythe size of the message, which in turn defines the number of bytes inthe data field of the message. In the unlikely event that even moreinformation is desired to be transmitted, the protocol defined in Table1 allows for ready expandability. In this regard bytes 9-11 define amessage number and a packet number. Up to 255 messages can be sent in aburst transmission, and up to 65,536 packets may be strung together. Inthis way, the central station, upon receiving multiple bursttransmissions may use the message number and packet number toreconstruct a relatively lengthy message transmission that is broken upover an number of successive transmissions.

Although it is preferred to implement the present invention through anopen-ended transmission protocol, as defined above, it will beappreciated that the concepts and teachings of the present invention arenot so limited. In fact, for purposes of the present invention, themessage transmitted by the transmitter may be as simple as aninstruction code that defines some condition, that a central station maydecode and act upon. In such an embodiment, the transceiver may bespecially configured to establish a phone connection with apredetermined central station.

In yet another embodiment, the transmitter may encode a message thattransmits both an instruction code and a phone number that thetransceiver is to establish a connection with. Such an embodiment,allows a generic transceiver to be utilized, such that multipleenterprises may utilize this common, generic transceiver for variousapplications. Consistent with these broad concepts, a variety of otherconfigurations may be employed as well.

Indeed, the foregoing description has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviousmodifications or variations are possible in light of the aboveteachings. For example, the transceiver has been illustrated hereinhaving a transmitter configured to communicate across the PSTN. However,it will be appreciated that the transmitter may, consistent with theconcepts and teachings of the present invention, be similarly configuredto communicate via cellular technology as well. For example, inembodiments such as the automobile embodiment described above, it may bedesirable to use a cellular transmitter, instead of a low-power RFtransmitter. This may be desired because the automobile may break down arelatively significant distance from the nearest pay-type telephone(e.g., location of the nearest transceiver). Thus, a transmitter in theautomobile may establish a cellular communication link to apredetermined telephone number and convey the information in a similarmessage structure.

In this regard, the embodiment or embodiments discussed were chosen anddescribed to provide the best illustration of the principles of theinvention and its practical application to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in variousembodiments and with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations arewithin the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claimswhen interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairlyand legally entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system of communicating information to apredetermined location comprising: a transmitter configured to transmitan electromagnetic signal containing an instruction code, theinstruction code uniquely identifying an instruction to be carried out;a transceiver configured to receive the transmitted signal, saidtransceiver circuit including a line interface circuit configured tointerface with a telephone line that is part of the public-switchedtelephone network (PSTN) and initiate a phone call over the telephoneline, said transceiver further including a controller configured tocontrol the reception of the transmitted signal and to control thecommunication of information over the telephone line; a central stationlocated remote from said transceiver but being in communication withsaid transceiver via the PSTN, said central station having a decoderconfigured to decode the instruction code; and wherein the transceiveris disposed within a public, pay-type telephone.
 2. The system asdefined in claim 1, wherein the system is a service request system. 3.The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal furtherincludes a phone number for the transceiver to dial in order toestablish connection with the central station.
 4. The system as definedin claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal further includes a logical IPaddress for the transceiver in order to route the message to the centralstation.
 5. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitter isa RF transmitter configured to transmit a low-power RF signal.
 6. Thesystem as defined in claim 1, wherein the transmitted signal furtherincludes a transmitter identifier code, an unique transmissiondestination address and a burst transmission length identifier.
 7. Thesystem as defined in claim 1, wherein the transceiver controller isconfigured to communicate the transmitted signal to the central station.8. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein the transceiver controlleris configured to communicate a transceiver identification code to thecentral station.
 9. The system as defined in claim 1, wherein thedecoder includes a look-up table.
 10. The system as defined in claim 8,wherein the central station includes means for evaluating thetransceiver identification code.
 11. The system as defined in claim 10,wherein the means for evaluating the transceiver code is configured todetermine a geographical location of the transceiver, based on thetransceiver identification code.
 12. The system as defined in claim 1,further including means associated with the transmitter for sensing aservice condition, and the transmitter being configured to transmit thetransmitted signal in response thereto.
 13. The system as defined inclaim 1, wherein the central station further includes means fornotifying service personnel of a service condition, in response to acommunication from the transceiver.
 14. A method for performing anautomated service request comprising the steps of: sensing a servicecondition; notifying a transmitter of the service condition;transmitting an information signal from the transmitter to aremotely-located transceiver, disposed in a public pay-type telephonethe information signal including a function code that specifies theservice condition, wherein the information signal is a radio-frequencysignal; placing a call from the transceiver to a central station over aphone line comprising a part of the public switched telephone network(PSTN); communicating at least the function code from the transceiver tothe central station; and decoding the function code at the centralstation to identify the service request.
 15. The method as defined inclaim 14, further including the step of communicating a transceiveridentification code from the transceiver to the central station.
 16. Themethod as defined in claim 15, wherein the decoding step morespecifically includes decoding both the function code and thetransceiver identification code to identify the service request.
 17. Themethod as defined in claim 15, further including the step evaluating thetransceiver identification code at the central station to determine ageographic location of the transceiver.
 18. The method as defined inclaim 14, wherein the information signal further includes a transmitteridentification code.
 19. The method as defined in claim 14, wherein theinformation signal further includes a phone number of the centralstation.
 20. The method as defined in claim 18, wherein the decodingstep more specifically includes decoding both the function code and thetransmitter identification code to identify the service request.
 21. Themethod as defined in claim 18, further including evaluating thetransmitter identification code at the central station to determine ageographic location of the transmitter.
 22. The method as defined inclaim 14, further including the step of placing a service call inresponse to the decoding step.
 23. The method as defined in claim 14,wherein the sensing step senses a failed condition of a system within anautomobile, and the transmitting step includes transmitting informationfrom a transmitter disposed within the automobile.
 24. A transceivercomprising: a receiver configured to receive an electromagnetic signal,the electromagnetic signal including an encoded instruction code; atransmitter configured to transmit a formatted electric signal over aphone line comprising part of the public switched telephone network(PSTN); a controller circuit including: a first portion configured toobtain the instruction code from the received signal; a second portionconfigured to establish a connection over the phone line to apredetermined location; a third portion configured to deliver theobtained instruction code to the transmitter for transmission over thephone line; and wherein the transmitter is a public pay type telephone.25. The transceiver as defined in claim 24, wherein the circuit is aprogrammable circuit, and the first portion, the second portion, and thethird portion are specially programmed code segments.
 26. Thetransceiver as defined in claim 24, further including a look-up tablefor decoding the instruction code to identify an associated function.27. The transceiver as defined in claim 24, further including means fordecoding the instruction code to identify an associate function.
 28. Thetransceiver as defined in claim 26, wherein the associated function is aservice request.
 29. The transceiver as defined in claim 24, wherein theelectromagnetic signal is a radio-frequency electromagnetic signal. 30.A method for relaying an electronic message from a transmitter to acentral location comprising the step of: transmitting an informationsignal from the transmitter to a remotely-located transceiver, theinformation signal including an instruction code that uniquely specifiesa message; placing a call from the transceiver to a central stationidentified by a predetermined phone number over a phone line comprisinga part of the public switched telephone network (PSTN); wherein placingthe call includes placing the call from a public, pay-type telephone;and communicating the instruction code from the transceiver to thecentral station.
 31. A transceiver comprising: means for receiving anelectromagnetic signal, the electromagnetic signal including an encodedinstruction code; means for transmitting a formatted electric signalover a phone line comprising part of the public switched telephonenetwork (PSTN); means for obtaining the instruction code from thereceived signal and delivering the obtained instruction code to themeans for transmitting for communication over the phone line to apredetermined destination; and wherein the transmitting means is apublic, pay-type telephone.
 32. The system as defined in claimed 6,wherein the transmitted signal further comprises: a messageidentification field; a packet identification field; and a data field.33. The system as defined in claim 6, wherein the unique transmissiondestination address is an Internet protocol (IP) address.
 34. The systemdefined in claim 32, wherein the data field comprises personalidentification information.
 35. The system as defined in claim 32,wherein the data field comprises personal account information.
 36. Thesystem as defined in claim 32, wherein the transmitted signal furthercomprises: a field adaptively configured for data transmission errorcorrection.
 37. The system as defined in claim 32, wherein thetransmitted signal further comprises: a field configured to indicate toa destination device that a subsequent message is to follow.